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T N. HILL.

OPEN LINK Pflzenjzed Jan. 4, 1887.

M wo z/wco'c Z 1 %a Mum (No Modei.)

- UNITED STATES 'PATENT Urrrcn.

T. NEWTON HILL, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. J

OPEN LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,317, dated January 4, 1887.

' Application filed May 12, 1886. Serial No. 201,980. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, T. NEWTON HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing atEichmond, in the county of Hen-rico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful I mprovements in Self-Locking Open Links; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art'to which it appertains to make and use the same, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to open links, and has for its object the provision of a link which shall possess the qualities of ready engagement with and disengagement from the ordinary closed links of a chain, ease and power in opening or disengaging the'link in case it becomes stuck for any reason, strength to resist the greatest strains in both longitudinal and lateral directions, and, above all, capacity for sure and complete self-locking, so that no strain, whether in adirector oblique direction, and no sort nor manner of loose movementas by slacking, shaking, or twistingshall disengage or open the link, thus securely and effectually providing against accidental disengagement from any and all causes.

ln constructing my invention I employ two .S-shaped members, centrally pivoted to each other and having their curved ends set in 'reverse directions. This general form of open .link, I am aware, is old and well-known; but

I have added features and elements of construction which produce the results above designated, and which give advantages and superiorities to my link not found in any other known to me.

The leading feature of novelty and advantage consists in locking shoulders or projections, which are placed upon each member and project into the oval opening. These shoulders form a complete safeguard against the accidental opening of the link, and render the link completely selflocking when once connected in the chain. The shoulders or projections extend from the central enlargement into the oval opening in the ends of the link, and lie about coincident with thelongitudinal axis or central line of each member of the link. WVhen the members are closed, the shoulders or projections on the two members of the link about register or coincide, but they may be set at different angles, so as to leave a space between their outer ends. The adjacent closed links or rings of the chain will come in contact with these shoulders on the side or between them, and will be effectually stoppedor locked thereby. The united action of these shoulders or projections and the long ends or pointsof the S-shaped members will form a stop for the passage or movement of the adjacent link or ring from one side to the other when the open link is partially expanded, and when caught in the space between the points the said link will be held therein securely.

Vith this self-locking link the two members arealways kept upon the adjacent link, and receive all strains jointly, thus insuring the double strength attained by "having the two members. In the ordinary S-shaped link with two'members this is not the ease, and it often happens that one member takes all the strain.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my invention into practice.

Figure l is an elevation of the device closed; Fig. 2, a similar view open to receive the adjacent links; Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are similar views showing the device in different positions and illustrating the self-locking capacity.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is one S-shaped member, andB the other. These members are united by a pivot, G. Around this pivot or center 0 the members are provided with a central strengthened enlargement, a, as shown, which serves to preserve the strength of the members at this point, where the eye or opening for the pivot would otherwise tend to weaken them. The curved portions a b of the members are preferably elongated, as shown, so as to make the openings or spaces in them oval, as shown at a This construction gives greater purchase or leverage upon the link in opening it-hy hand, in case it becomes stuck for any reason, as by mashing or by wetting and freezing or rusting. or points long, and I extend them well back 10o This construction makes the free ends toward the center pivot. As will be readily vent the adjacent link from catching over their ends in case of a side strain, which, upon the change in direction of the strain, results in opening the link in the ordinary S-shaped link with two members.

Shoulders or projections a b are formed on the members in a line about coincident with the longitudinal axis thereof and extending into the oval openings. These shoulders or projections form a complete and perfect locking means, as has already been explained, and as can be seen from the drawings. They prevent the adjacent links or rings from opening the link by any variety of side strain or by any shaking or loose movement. The adjacent links or rings come in contact with these projections either upon their sides or be tween them, and in any of the different points of contact therewith the members of the link are securely locked.

In conjunction with the long points or ends the shoulders or projections form stops or closing means, which prevent the adjacent links from slipping or moving from side to side and hold them in position to engage both members of the link when the strain is again applied.

This action is fully illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5,

and 6 of the drawings.

The adjacent links or rings are marked d and c.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An open link consisting of two S-shaped members pivoted together, as described, and provided with the shoulders or projections 11 a, extending into the opening a from the center of the link, as described, which form locking means for said" link against accidental opening, as set forth.

2. An open link consisting of two S-shaped members pivoted together, as described, and

provided with extended points-on their curved ends and projections or shoulders formed integral with the link members and extending into the opening a substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' T. NEWTON HILL.

\Vitnesses:

I. N. KALB, C. S. DOMER. 

